Water Damage To Your Flooring

The floors of your Billings home tend to be extra susceptible to water damage. No matter the source of the damage, water will typically find its way to the floor. Water tends to pool and collect on the floors, and for serious flooding, the entire floor is submerged. Here at Faithful Cleaning, we know what a big job it is to restore water damage from your floors and we want to help share some of our tips to help save your floors from irreversible water damage.

Water Damage Restoration In Billings MT

We are going to go over how you should respond to water damage on some of the most common flooring types found in homes here in Billings so you can ensure a successful water damage restoration. 

• Laminate Floors: Laminate floors are a popular flooring choice because they are durable and pretty impervious to water. That being said, if water damage is bad enough to get underneath the floors, it can cause serious problems. Laminate floors can swell up and separate from the subfloor beneath them when water seeps under them. Drying the subfloor can prove difficult, and may require the laminate particles to be removed. Industrial air movers and dehumidifiers will help to dry out the subfloors, but you should still allow adequate time for the flooring to dry out completely. If the laminate floors are not too badly damaged, they can be laid back down once the subfloor is dried. Laminate can be cleaned and sanitized following water damage pretty easily with specialized cleaners so that no harmful contaminates are left behind. The best way to handle water-damaged laminate floors is to get the water removed as quickly as possible so that you can begin drying them out right away. 
• Vinyl Floors: When installed correctly, vinyl floors are relatively waterproof and can handle exposure to water and moisture very well. These floors can also come in many different looks from imitation wood, stone, tile, and even marble so they are a great flooring option both for functionality and for appearance. Similar to laminate floors, if water gets underneath vinyl or between the individual pieces, that’s when the real problems start. Wet subfloors can cause soft spots in your vinyl flooring and can cause them to cup or buckle. Removing the water as soon as possible and drying out the floors completely will provide the best possible outcome for vinyl. If pieces need to be removed in order to thoroughly dry out the subfloor, be sure to have them re-installed by a trained professional. Like we said earlier, vinyl flooring is extremely resistant to water when it is installed correctly so be sure to have someone with experience laying vinyl floors help with this step. Vinyl floors can be cleaned easily as well so you can rest assured that no bacteria or other contaminants are left behind following water damage. 
• Hardwood Floors: This type of flooring is probably one of the most desired floors, but unfortunately, the most sensitive to water damage (excluding carpet – we will save carpets for another day). Wood is very porous even when sealed, so it can swell, warp, buckle, crack, and fade when exposed to water. The thing to remember with water-damaged hardwood floors is the longer the wood is exposed to the eater, the worse the damage will be. If you want to salvage your hardwood floors after water damage, you need to act fast to get the water removed. Then you need to get them dried out. With wood, you want the drying process to be slow and steady. If wood releases moisture too quickly, it will result in cupping. Patience is key. With moisture monitoring equipment, professionals can control the rate at which the drying occurs, providing the best results for your hardwood floors. Oftentimes, you will need to sand and re-stain, and seal hardwood floors to return them to their pre-loss condition. 

Whatever your floor type may be, be sure to call Faithful Cleaning so we can get the water removed and dried as quickly as possible. They’re readily available to help you with your water damage needs.